Do I get taxed more on a bonus?
Yes. While the amount of taxes can vary, your employer must use the percentage or aggregate model to calculate the federal tax withholding from your bonus. They are required to do so for any supplemental income or cash equivalents that qualify as taxable income.
- Make a Retirement Contribution. ...
- Contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) ...
- Defer Compensation. ...
- Donate to Charity.
- Pay Medical Expenses. ...
- Request a Non-Financial Bonus. ...
- Supplemental Pay vs.
Your bonus will be taxed, but you can lower the amount of your taxable income by depositing some or all of it in a tax-deferred retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA. However, this does not mean you will avoid paying taxes completely.
Bonuses in the US automatically have 22% of federal withholding applied.
Why is tax withholding on bonuses so high? Since bonuses are paid in addition to your normal paycheck, taxes are withheld at a higher rate than your regular wages. This is because they are considered supplemental income.
Your total bonuses for the year get taxed at a 22% flat rate if they're under $1 million. If your total bonuses are higher than $1 million, the first $1 million gets taxed at 22%, and every dollar over that gets taxed at 37%. Your employer must use the percentage method if the bonus is over $1 million.
Because the IRS considers company bonuses “supplemental income,” they are taxed just like any other income you make. Other types of payment that fall into the supplemental income category include commissions, overtime pay, tips, severance and payment for unused accrued time off.
The federal bonus tax rate is typically 22%. However, employers could instead combine a bonus with your regular wages as though it's one of your usual paychecks—with your usual tax amount withheld.
Different income tax brackets apply depending on how much money you make. Generally speaking, a higher percentage is typically taken out of your paycheck if you earn a higher level of income.
Your employer will withhold tax from your bonus plus your regular earnings according to what you shared with your employer on your W-4. Because you're receiving more money than usual, your employer will withhold more money than usual.
Should I defer my bonus to next year?
Key takeaways
A bonus can be a great opportunity to pay off debt, contribute to retirement accounts, or invest in an index fund. Using your bonus for self-improvement, such as learning a new skill, can also have long-term benefits. Consider deferring your bonus to the next year to potentially save on taxes.
The total 401(k) contribution limit doesn't distinguish between "normal" income and bonus income. If you don't match bonuses, employees can just contribute more from their paychecks, so you aren't really preventing anything.
When your employer provides you with a bonus, they will report it on your W-2 in box 1—but it's combined with your normal wages or salary. In the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service, your bonus is no different than the salary you receive.
Taxes are figured on your annual income and there's no difference between salary and commission income there. That being said, your tax withholding might be different with commissions. There are different withholding rules for daily, weekly, bi weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and one-time payments.
Bonuses are taxed more than regular pay because they are considered supplemental income. They are always federally taxed, no matter which tax bracket you're in. Bonuses are taxed either by using the percentage method or the aggregate method. PaycheckCity has both percentage and aggregate bonus free calculators.
Raises and bonuses boost morale, incentivize employees, and ensure that staff feel rewarded and appreciated. Raises are a permanent increase in payroll expenses; bonuses are a variable cost and therefore give business owners greater financial flexibility when business is down.
An easy way to even out the amount you have withheld is to file a new Form W-4. Adjusting your withholdings can reduce the amount of tax withheld from your pay for the rest of the year. Be sure to file another Form W-4 next year or whenever you need to adjust it again.
Federal tax withholding
If you earn more than usual during a pay period (such as work overtime or receive a bonus), the FITW will increase. If you earn less (such as work fewer hours or increase contributions to your 401k), the FITW will decrease.
As with any income, you have to pay state and federal taxes on your bonuses. But since they're considered supplemental wages by the IRS, bonuses are subject to a flat 22% withholding rate, no matter which tax bracket you're in.
Bonuses are taxed higher, generally. You get the excess tax back when filing taxes - depending on your overall income, allowances and other deductions. Bonuses may have more withheld from them. They are not taxed higher.
Can I change my withholding at any time?
You can adjust your W-4 at any time during the year. Just remember, adjustments made later in the year will have less impact on your taxes for that year.
However, people are often surprised when the amount they receive from an announced bonus is much less than expected. That situation — where a big chunk seems missing from your bonus pay — is due to federal tax withholding and so-called bonus tax rates.
Tax rate | Single filers | Head of household |
---|---|---|
10% | $11,600 or less | $16,550 or less |
12% | $11,601 to $47,150 | $16,551 to $63,100 |
22% | $47,151 to $100,525 | $63,101 to $100,500 |
24% | $100,526 to $191,950 | $100,501 to $191,150 |
Bonuses are subject to the same tax rate as the rest of your ordinary income. But they are generally subject to a flat 22% federal withholding rate and something like 10-13% for NYS/NYC withholding taxes. And then regular payroll taxes ...so expect about a 35-40% all-in withholding rate.
The U.S. currently has seven federal income tax brackets, with rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. If you're one of the lucky few to earn enough to fall into the 37% bracket, that doesn't mean that the entirety of your taxable income will be subject to a 37% tax. Instead, 37% is your top marginal tax rate.
References
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/how-to-calculate-annual-income/
- https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-23000-for-2024-ira-limit-rises-to-7000
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-62-400-000-401-154948217.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/092915/raise-vs-bonus-your-small-business-employees.asp
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/taxes/bonus-tax-rate
- https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/401k-how-much-of-your-paycheck-would-allow-you-to-max-out/
- https://allisonsoares.com/blog/how-are-bonuses-taxed-in-california/
- https://www.vox.com/money/23851170/bonus-raise-job-market-work-money
- https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/how-a-bonus-is-taxed
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/after-tax-vs-roth-401k
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/earnedincome.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/06/commissiontaxes.asp
- https://canvasannuity.com/blog/safest-place-for-retirement-savings
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/070715/what-difference-between-agi-adjusted-gross-income-and-net-income.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/082716/your-401k-whats-ideal-contribution.asp
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-60-just-300-000-130017584.html
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/jobs-and-career/how-bonuses-are-taxed/L7UjtAZbh
- https://www.irs.gov/government-entities/indian-tribal-governments/itg-faq-2-answer-what-income-is-considered-earned-income
- https://www.irs.gov/filing/taxable-income
- https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/15bxxvu/my_bonus_check_taxed_almost_35/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/exactly-how-to-pick-investments-for-your-401k.html
- https://www.grfcpa.com/resource/year-end-bonuses-tax-issues-for-employers-and-employees/
- https://www.katzlawgroup.com/the-skinny-on-providing-holiday-bonuses-employers-remember-these-rules
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/bonus-vs-raise
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/bonus-into-401k/
- https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/taxes/sign-on-bonus-taxes-advice-21496d32
- https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc424
- https://www.bankrate.com/banking/what-to-do-with-annual-bonus/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/070915/what-difference-between-taxable-income-and-gross-income.asp
- https://www.jeniusbank.com/blog/articles/maximize-401k-contributions-without-exceeding-limits
- https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/bonus-tax-rate
- https://smartasset.com/retirement/401k-over-contribution
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/other-income/tax-on-bonus/
- https://www.independentactuaries.com/what-is-a-mistake-of-fact-contribution/
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/filing/personal-tax-planning/paycheck-taxes/
- https://www.marshmma.com/us/insights/details/should-i-reduce-my-401k-contribution-when-the-market-is-down.html
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/retirement/401k-early-withdrawal-penalty/
- https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/pdf_pub_ctr/de231pit.pdf
- https://www.asppa.org/asea/mistake-fact-contributions
- https://anderscpa.com/401k-audit-correcting-participant-deferrals/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/current-federal-income-tax-brackets
- https://money.stackexchange.com/questions/120124/401k-match-percentage-does-it-include-bonuses
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/401k-tax-deduction-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/why-bonus-taxed-high
- https://www.paycheckcity.com/calculator/agbonus/new-york
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/excess-401k-contribution-what-to-do
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/401-k-excess-deferral/L9XUjVAxP_US_en_US
- https://joinhomebase.com/blog/how-to-run-a-bonus-payroll/
- https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/tax-brackets
- https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/one-participant-401k-plans
- https://www.approachfp.com/writing-a-check-to-your-401k/
- https://www.sippadvice.co.uk/guides/can-i-retire-at-60-with-300k/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/16/forgot-to-reverse-withdrawal-from-retirement-account-heres-how-to-fix-it.html
- https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/401k-plan-fix-it-guide-the-plan-was-top-heavy-and-required-minimum-contributions-were-not-made-to-the-plan
- https://www.fidelity.com/retirement-ira/excess-ira-contributions
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-refund/top-5-reasons-to-adjust-your-w-4-withholding/L8Gqrgm0V
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/bonus-tax-rate-how-are-bonuses-taxed
- https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/5xi1gr/are_bonuses_taxed_at_a_higher_rate_and_if_so_if/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/082515/why-are-ira-roth-iras-and-401k-contributions-limited.asp
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/many-americans-retire-million-dollars-140019814.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/average-401k-balance-by-age/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/401k-contribution-limits/
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-return/video-are-bonuses-included-in-adjusted-gross-income/L75EXIDr3
- https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-401k-and-profit-sharing-plan-contribution-limits
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-return/taxable-income-vs-nontaxable-income-what-you-should-know/L0h4j5DZQ
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/retirement/discussion/another-question-about-1099-r-and-roth-ira-excess-contributions/00/3281946
- https://www.principal.com/individuals/build-your-knowledge/how-max-out-your-401k-and-ira-retirement-contributions
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/early-withdrawals-401ks
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/how-to-avoid-taxes-on-bonus-check
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-company-bonus-is-taxed/
- https://money.stackexchange.com/questions/145563/is-401k-contribution-from-non-salary-sources-allowed
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-commission-tax-rate-in-California
- https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/signs-your-401k-portfolio-is-too-aggressive/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/158.asp
- https://1099-etc.com/blog/business/are-bonuses-included-in-w2/
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Community/new-york-big-law/nyc-big-law-how-are-bonuses-taxed-as-regular-income-or-more-wise-second-year-here-preparing-for-bonus-szn
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-refund/why-is-my-check-so-small-after-taxes/L5nn04OgA
- https://mbsfin.com/401k-refund-what-done/
- https://blog.taxact.com/how-annual-bonuses-are-taxed/
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/backdoor-roth-ira-good-move
- https://www.fool.com/retirement/plans/401k/contribute-to-401k-and-ira/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/fidelityinvestments/comments/178qxi0/is_there_a_way_to_make_a_lump_sum_contribution_to/